We spent several hours exploring the charming and relatively quiet old streets of the neighborhood surrounding our hotel in Chengdu, near Wenshu Temple. Consisting of alleyways snaking through two city blocks, it was a great place to buy souvenirs and sample the local snacks, if you dare. I drank a cup of freshly pressed sugar […]
Chengdu
Things to Do in Chengdu, China
Our hotel was located in Chengdu’s old town, right down the street from Wenshu Temple. Originally built during the Tang Dynasty (618-690 AD), it is the largest and best-preserved Buddhist temple in the city. Among its most precious relics are a Burmese jade Buddha and the skull of a Tang Dynasty monk. The temple also […]
Chen’s Mapo Doufu, a Chengdu Institution
Chengdu is deep in the heart of Sichuan province, which is known the world over for its spicy cuisine. The Sichuan pepper is different from regular black pepper in that it has anesthetizing properties and a pink hue. One of the most popular dishes to utilize this pepper is 马坡豆腐 (mapo doufu), soft squares of […]
Visiting a Panda Park in Chengdu, China
We have just returned from Chengdu where we got up close and personal with China’s national treasure, the giant panda, at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. The park is beautifully designed, with groves of bamboo and clever barriers that make it feel as though you are witnessing these rare animals in the […]